One Year

Amelia celebrated her first year of life this weekend. It is hard to believe she has come from this to the very big girl you see above. What a year it has been for everyone. We have missed more work, sleep, and evenings out than I ever imagined. But I also never knew how happy one little person could make us.

She and her friend Bella sported matching bathing suits and grass skirts.

Alex really enjoyed the water.

Here is Amelia with one of her favorite new toys, a care bear car.

And her old pal Rufus snuck in for his cake while no one was looking.

Hello Amelia

One of her new favorite tricks is to stand up and look at herself in the mirror of this old armoire. Then she pounds her fists into it as hard as she can. She really enjoys this. We don't.
P.S. Check out that thick(er) head of hair she is sporting.

Summer

Amelia got her first pool this weekend. Just add water - she is ready for summer.

Posing

Amelia really turns it on for the camera. We were saying how cute this outfit was and how we wanted to take some pictures showing it off. Voila, she plopped down and posed for us.

Walking Soon

Amelia has been propping her self up on things, standing and starting to move. Click here to view a movie of Amelia training for things to come.

Lungs

We are trying to instill a good work ethic at an early age. Here Amelia learns that if she wants to play with her new toy she has to blow it up first.

One From the Archives

Here is an oldie but a goodie that I have been meaning to put up for some time. Also, I have gotten lazy on the picture taking front lately. As the tree in the background indicates, this one is from Christmas, 2004.

Resting

In a rare moment, Amelia lets Mom snuggle with her. Usually Amelia is much too busy for this type of thing.

Special Delivery

Little people will be popping up all over town soon. Congratulations Becky & Stephen, Ryan & Erin, Kari & Eric, Sally & John and anyone else I forgot. Most of you are first timers so here is some sage advice: sleep while you can.

Amelia Rose and Bella Rose

Amelia and Bella had a walk this weekend. Amelia likes watching all the things Bella can do. Good motivation for learning to walk.





They also played in the park and set up house.

Sign of Things to Come

Mom = size 10, Dad = size 13, Baby Amelia = big feet are in your future girl!

Dinner Time

Spaghetti is one of her new favorite foods. The taste is ok but what really gets her is the sheer joy of pounding her little fists into the tray and watching sauce spray all over the place.

Happy Mothers Day

Who else could take Amelia from the baby ICU to this in less than one year.



Amelia (and her dad) are both very lucky. Happy Mothers Day Emma!

Peek a Boo

Click here to view a movie of Amelia playing one of her favorite bathtime games.

Beautiful Girl

Ok, she is my first born child and the sky is blue, the trees are green, and the sun is shining just behind her head, but isn't this just the face of divine beauty.

Grandma Rose

Amelia Rose and her Grandma Theresa Rose went to the park this weekend. Amelia took in all her surroundings ... very serious ...

Until Grandma started tickling her.

Al Fresco

I just couldn't take that sad picture any longer. She is still sick and coughing through the night which keeps everyone up. This was taken last weekend before the sickness set in. A very happy baby enjoying her meal outside.

Sick Once More

We almost thought we were going to escape April without Amelia having some sort of ailment but alas she has a cold. She is back on the breathing treatments. She now has her very own nebulizer machine, purchased at the doctor's recommendation. The machine's mask has fish gills and eyes. This medical euphemism ranks right up there with the day-glow color cast. What's the point. It certainly doesn't make her any more willing to take the treatments!

Amelia sends a shout out to her girl Bella who just beat pneumonia. We don't want any of that so we are doing what we can to get over this quickly.

Stunt Fall

Click here to view a movie of Amelia performing her famous stunt fall. She is quite the little daredevil. The only warning she gives is a mischievous look, then she falls back at will. If we are lucky she happens to be on a soft surface like our bed. Will she be the next extreme sports champion? Bungee jumper extraordinaire? Or did she just inherit her Mom's love of roller coasters? Some of you may have to play the movie through twice to see it at full speed.

First Swing

Amelia took her first ride in a swing last weekend. She wasn't so thrilled about the whole experience. Maybe swinging is better after the first birthday, which is getting closer every day.

Amelia & Mom

Amelia went to check out the playground in her neighborhood this weekend. There are lots of toys just her size. Stay tuned, coming later this week ... her first swing experience.

Leggs

Amelia remains in the 95% for her height. She is taller than many children who are 2 years or older and already walking. With a 6'2" tall Dad, 5'10" tall Mom and Great Aunts on both sides of the family soaring to over 6' this little girl is not going to be short.

Movin' Movie

Click here to view a movie of Amelia on the move. She creeps around the house with ease now. Except nothing is easy about it for Mom and Dad. Some of you may have to play the movie through twice to see it at full speed.

Grandpa AV

Amelia listens closely to her Grandpa.

Me Ma

Amelia went to a party last Sunday at Aunt Jo-Ann and Uncle Alan's. Here is Alan holding her next to her Me Ma, her Great Grandmother. Alan also took some great pictures which will appear this week, Jo-Ann gets the credit for this one.

Looking Out

Amelia spys dad i.e. (the photographer) outside of her window.

PS: For those of you wondering where the regular "Watch Me Grow" feature is you will have to ask Amelia. She refuses to lay down long enough for me to take the picture. There is just too much to see for her to waste time laying down. The next time she is all jacked up on Benadryl and feeling drowsy I will try and pose her for the shot.

Apple

Amelia has discovered apples. She enjoys scraping away some bits with her teeth. It takes her a while to eat since she still only has 2 teeth. Just don't try and take her apple away, she bites.

Let Me Out

Amelia trying to defeat the walls of her pac-n-play.

Drink

This picture takes a little explaining but it is one of Amelia's favorite things about her bath. Every night without fail Rufus waits patiently for Amelia to get settled into her bath. Then he wants his drink of water. While Rufus drinks Amelia moves in and inspects his claws and laughs at him. She also wants to drink from the cup but we keep the dirty baby bath water reserved for Rufus only. What a lucky dog!

Grass

Amelia had a great time discovering the grass in her backyard.

It doesn't take her long to be on the move in any new environment.

Auntie Lo

Thanks for letting me take Easter pics at your house Auntie Lo.

Easter Movie

Click here to view an Easter movie of Amelia with her duck (thanks Grandpa and Janet). She will show her newest trick - clapping. The sound is great - you will get to hear one of her most special sounds as she sings along. Play the movie through twice to see it at full speed.

Presents For Me

Grandma returned from NYC with some good loot for Amelia including a sushi bib which Amelia plans to sport the first time she eats sushi. She has been reading all about it. Aunt Alee sent Ice Bat "who lives in an ice cave inside an icebox. Anything he touches turns to ice…yet he warms your heart! Ice Bat is lookin’ to chill with you."

Spring Is Here

I was going to wait until Easter to post these but they are just too good. Amelia's cute outfit is courtesy of Mike & Lynn Evans (thanks guys). She enjoyed a beautiful spring day at Auntie Lo and Uncle Al's.


She was intrigued with the Easter eggs and will be hot on the egg hunting trail next year. Watch out Easter Bunny!

The Artist Formerly Known As Amelia

Amelia came home from school with her first picture today.

And here we see the artist posing with her work.

Jumbo Music Block

Amelia received a Neurosmith Jumbo Music Block from her Uncle Derek and Aunt Erica. This is no ordinary musical toy. It contains a powerful speaker that plays the full harmonic range of nursery rhymes. It also allows you to change cartridges and play different songs. As you can see it keeps her quite busy. Thanks guys.

Grandpa Jim

Amelia had a visit from Grandpa Jim, Nana Janice and the little ants (sic) Brandi and Sabrina. Here Amelia holds her favorite thing of all time, her very own remote control. She became so obsessed with the remote that we gave her one. Just try taking it away and let the screaming begin.

Caged In

This picture was taken a few weeks ago - before she learned how to stand up. Now she would never be caught in such a stance.

Stand Up

Amelia is pretty pleased with herself. She has the whole pulling up and standing thing down. Once she gets up she is not real sure what to do. Shortly after this picture was taken she collapsed to the floor of her pack & play (unharmed but confused).

New Movie

Click here to view Amelia on the move in a big way. What was she after you might wonder? The TV remote of course. Those of you at work might want to mute sound before viewing.

Peek-A-Boo

Amelia loves to play peek-a-boo.

Here she and her teeth are.
PS: She is still not sleeping and is currently taking a cocktail of 4-5 over the counter and prescription medications.

Sleep Terrorist Teeth

These little razors have become more pronounced. If you get close enough she will probably try and take a chunk out of you. The teeth will be making another appearance later in the week. Stay tuned.

BTW: She got over pink eye and but has relapsed and infected dad. She has also become an expert sleep terrorist - striking fear into the hearts and minds of moms and dads everywhere who just want a solid 8 ... no 6 ... ok anything more than 3 hours of sleep a night. The world is just so new and they days are so short. Why waste time sleeping.